Explore The Google-Based Infotainment Of The 2026 Mazda CX-5

The new 2026 Mazda CX-5, now in its third generation, was revealed last July. If you live in Europe, the new CX-5 is already heading to dealers, while here in the Philippines, its most likely launch timetable would be somewhere in the second half of 2026. The highly popular CX-5 is a very important vehicle for Mazda. Last year, 345,209 units were sold worldwide, forming a significant chunk of the brand’s overall sales. As such, pressure to keep the CX-5 competitive and relevant in 2026 is high, but one of its most controversial aspects—at least to Mazda fans—is its all-touch interface.

This is the complete opposite of what we’ve come to get used to with Mazda, which championed the use of physical knobs and buttons. But why did they go this route, and is it the end of the world? Let’s take a look at the next-generation CX-5’s infotainment.

RIP Rotary Knob Controller

Gone is the plethora of physical controls, along with the decade-old rotary knob controller from the previous Mazda Connect infotainment. Matthew Valbuena, Project Manager of In-Vehicle Technologies and HMI for Mazda North American Operations, states in the brand’s video tour of the new infotainment that the new CX-5 enabled them to create a clean-sheet design for its next-generation infotainment system.

The new Mazda E/E Architecture+ (Mazda EEA+) is the brand’s next-generation vehicle software architecture that will be used in all upcoming models. The user interface, which uses Google’s Android Automotive, has a user interface layout that’s designed to minimize the driver’s cognitive load. In other words, there should be minimal head glancing from the road to the standard 10.25-inch digital gauges and the 12.9-inch or 15.6-inch touchscreen. Depending on the variant, you should also see a 122 percent larger head-up display than the previous CX-5.

Now, the user interface follows a smartphone-like layout, with a customizable home screen for ease of access. Of course, as with every other touch-centric layout, the infotainment permanently displays the climate control settings. Critical vehicle functions, such as the hazard lights and stability control, remain physical controls that are within the driver’s line of sight.

A big part of why Mazda had the courage to ditch its signature rotary knob controller is because of Android Automotive’s built-in Google Assistant, which will eventually become the AI-driven Gemini voice assistant down the line. Since most of us argue that the lack of dedicated climate controls is too distracting, as that requires a higher cognitive load, Gemini’s AI smarts can handle such in-vehicle tasks quickly and seamlessly.

Mazda’s SDV Era

Mazda EEA+ is the successor of Mazda Connect, and it’s a ground-up reinvention of the brand’s infotainment system design. As the quest towards software-defined vehicles (SDVs) continues, Mazda EEA+ brings together the vehicle’s electronic control units, software layers, communication networks, and the external servers that support the car’s digital functions.

Mazda EEA+ is the foundation of Mazda’s SDV architecture, and as such, the new CX-5 can receive over-the-air (OTA) updates that add new functions to the vehicle’s hardware, the advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and, of course, the vehicle’s software-based features. Since the software is based on Android Automotive, you can personalize the in-vehicle experience, as well as easily transfer your information and preferences from your Google account and into the vehicle. Basically, Google Maps search history and Google Gemini’s learnings from your preferences are carried over to the CX-5 seamlessly.

Customers Wanted The Touchscreen

But why did Mazda ditch the physical controls in favor of an all-touch interface? According to Valbuena, the decision to go towards the pure touchscreen route is based on their own testing and research. He says:

“Based on internal testing and consumer research, we believe this solution is best equipped to address the wants and needs of our customers. Touchscreens have become a ubiquitous interface due to their ease of use and flexibility in supporting dynamic interfaces.”

Interestingly, companies like Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) are reversing course in the removal of physical controls because, based on their own research, focus groups within their internal testing have suggested that going the all-touchscreen route is too distracting to use. Anyway, in Mazda’s case, if this is indeed true, there seems to be a disconnect between what’s on social media versus what customers actually want.

While the rotary knob controller of Mazda Connect was second nature and easy to use, I think I would agree with the part that it does have a slight learning curve if you’re a first-time user. Twirling a knob rather than directly operating with a touchscreen means your operation of the vehicle’s systems is locked into the system’s clicks and presses, which is where the supposed steeper learning curve is probably coming from. Valbuena says that the new, all-touch interface allows for a reduced learning curve:

“This immediate ease of use provides a quicker, more intuitive learning curve for a wider range of users. This is especially true when using popular phone mirroring solutions like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. With this new touchscreen interface, you’re able to utilize familiar gestures to drag and drop, pinch to zoom, swipe, and scroll as you interact with the on-screen content.”

Then again, doesn’t every user interface have a learning curve when you use it for the first time? Upon owning two Mazda 6s, a lot of the rotary knob’s functions have become almost muscle memory—something that’s not possible with a pure touchscreen. To be fair, I’m willing to let go of the rotary knob controller, but the physical climate controls are what most of us prefer to remain in a vehicle.